THE COMPARISON OF PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERSAND A GENERAL HEADACHE POPULATION

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible association of s igns and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders relative to headache. Fifty-six sequential patients referred to the Headache Institute of M innesota for evaluation and treatment of migraine and tension headache s were examined for signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders. The results of the examination of headache patients were compared to patients suffering from myofascial pain dysfunction and/or TMJ interna l derangements from the TMJ and Craniofacial Pain Clinic at the Univer sity of Minnesota Finally the migraine and tension headache patients w ere compared to each other and an asymptomatic population. Results ind icate that patients with temporomandibular disorders exhibit significa ntly more jaw dysfunction and pericranial muscle tenderness than migra ine and tension headache patients. Migraine and tension headache patie nts were found to have similar amounts of pericranial muscle tendernes s. Migraine and tension headache patients exhibited significantly more pericranial and neck muscle tenderness than a general population.